SPECTACULAR SCIENCE: A BOOK OF POEMS selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Hopkins Collection

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1999. SPECTACLUAR SCIENCE: A BOOK OF POEMS. illustrated by Virginia Halstead. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978069851209

This book is a brilliant compilation of poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, all with the theme of science. The poems cover science themes from biology, to chemistry, physics, and more. Each poem was well chosen for elementary age children. Most of the poems are rhyming, but all of the poems have a definite rhythm that will make it easy and enjoyable for children to read along with the adult. The 15 poems included in this compilation have the ability to draw students into science and literature. 

The illustrations by Virginia Halstead are fantastic and add a sense of playfulness to the poems. The colors are bright and appealing to the eye. The oil pastels and color pencils add a visual interpretation to the poems, but also can feed children's imaginations. 

Spotlight Poem

The Seed

Aileen Fisher

How does it know,

this little seed,

if it is to grow

to a flower or weed,

if it is to be

a vine or shoot,

or grow to a tree

with a long deep root?

A seed is so small,

where do you suppose

it stores up all

of the things it knows?

(excerpt from SPECTACULAR SCIENCE)

Can't you hear this poem being read by a group of children, complete with hand made props out of construction paper. That is my favorite thing about this book of poems, you can visualize these poems so well, that students would be able to make their own props and act out these poems. 

Activities for the Classroom

The first poem in the book is titled, What is Science?, and can be used at the beginning of the year to start conversations with students about what science is and what scientists do. 

Many of the poems have questions about science, and show that our curiosity is a way of exploring science. After introducing some of these poems, the students can write their own questions they have about the world and illustrate.